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SALT LAKE CITY — The state Capitol was filled with the sounds of Mexican classics like "Cielito Lindo" and "El Rey" on Wednesday night, as groups from across the Wasatch Front participated in Utah's first statewide mariachi competition.
The event grew a large crowd, with anyone unable to snag a seat in the packed rotunda spreading out onto the stairs and upper banisters to watch four professional mariachis compete for cash prizes totaling over $4,000, as well as a first-place medal named after Mexican composer and singer José Alfredo Jiménez, the father of mariachi music.
Youth groups, who didn't meet the requirements for the competition, also had the crowd clapping along to their performances.
Miguel Vega and Claudia Covarruvias, both from Colima, Mexico, attended the event with their 4-year-old daughter, Angela Vega, who helped her father wave a Mexican flag along to the beat of many of the songs.
"It's a really cool, important event that shows us that our roots are still important and to not just leave them behind in our country but to show the world this is what represents us and to be proud of it," Vega told KSL.com in Spanish.
Organizers drew inspiration for the competition from "Going Varsity in Mariachi." The documentary, which won acclaim at Sundance this winter, follows high school mariachi musicians in South Texas.
"I know for myself, I didn't grew up playing musical instruments, but I definitely did grow up listening to mariachi music, so I've had that affinity to it. Hopefully this just cements and further emphasizes the mariachi heritage we have here in Utah as something that's meant to be preserved," said Claudia Loayza, with the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.
Utah's Mexican Consul Eduardo Baca Cuenca said the consul hopes to continue the event, whether it be a competition or other form, in the following years.
"Mariachis originally are from Mexico, but they are very popular in all of Latin America and in a lot of places around the world. There are even mariachi bands in Italy and France who don't have any Mexican members among the group, but they have a love for the music," Baca said. "We hope that this proves beneficial to the mariachi bands in terms of getting their music known even more and having more opportunities to play mariachi music."
Sol Lozano, director of Mariachi México en Utah, comes from a family of musicians and has played mariachi for two decades. She said her favorite part is the lyrics and feeling the passion in the music.
"This event is important to show the people of Utah that there are mariachis here that can serenade their loved ones. They can call us to book their celebrations with us," she said, in Spanish. "We bring you a piece of romantic Mexican music — for birthdays, for Mother's or Father's Day, for quinceañeras, for weddings, baptisms, for all the events."
Jhojan Guzmán, musical director of Mariachi Guzmán, also comes from a long line of musicians. His grandfather was a mariachi musician in Mexico and kept the traditional alive after moving to Columbia and starting a family. Guzmán started playing mariachi at age 12 thanks to his father and grandfather.
He started a mariachi band in New York, but the group decided to move to Utah a few years ago because Guzmán said there are more opportunities to expand. That decision culminated in the eight-person group taking first place Wednesday night.
"It's a really strong emotion to be able to interpret this music that we play with so much respect, love and care — music that touches our souls and that we like so much," he said. "More than the recognition, being able to participate in this event and interpreting the music with our colleagues, that's the part we're most proud of — that the tradition doesn't die and mariachi continues for many more years."
